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King Star King

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King Star King
The titular character standing on top of a mountain peak with a sword in hand and a a giant head in the background; both are next to the words "King Star King" with various credits.
Title Card
Genre
Created byJ. J. Villard
Eric Kaplan (pilot co-creator)
Developed byTommy Blacha
Directed byJ. J. Villard
Creative directorAntonio Canobbio (series only)
Voices of(See Voices)
Composers
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes6 (+1 pilot and 1 special) (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • J. J. Villard
  • Tommy Blacha
  • Eric Kaplan (pilot)
Producers
  • Series: Ben Kalina and Shannon Prynoski; Peedee Shindell (Episodes 2–6)
  • Pilot: Jukka Montonen and Raduca Kaplan
Editors
  • George Soto (series)
  • Jukka Montonen and J. J. Villard (pilot)
  • Paul D. Calder (special)
Running time11 minutes approx.
22 minutes (special)
Production companies
Original release
Network
ReleaseJune 15 (2014-06-15) –
August 3, 2014 (2014-08-03)

King Star King is an American adult animated web series created by J. J. Villard for Adult Swim; Eric Kaplan also worked on the series' pilot episode. The series aired on the network's online video streaming service Adult Swim Video on June 15, 2014 before it was aired on TV.

A TV special titled King Star King!/!/!/ aired on February 13, 2023 on Adult Swim.[1] The special takes place on Christmas.

Synopsis

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The series revolves around the titular character, King Star King (Tommy Blacha): a tall, blond muscular man. After seducing his love, Princess Snow White, he falls from his higher plane of existence to serve as a fry cook in a run-down waffle house. In order to reclaim his place in the heavens, he must battle his amnesia to defeat the evil Spring Bunny (Eric Kaplan) and rescue Snow White.

Production

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The pilot was announced preceding the network's 2012 upfront as part of their development slate.[2] It was also disclosed during the upfront,[3] and was reported again before the network's upfront the following year.[4] It was announced as a web series for Adult Swim Video to premiere June 15, 2014; the series was advertised as "too shexxxy [sic]" for television.[5] The network conducted an online poll whether episodes should be released daily or all at once;[5] on June 11, the network announced it would release all six episodes of the first season simultaneously.[6] A sweepstake for the series was announced on June 9, promoting six chances to win original artwork by Villard.[7]

The series was animated using Adobe Flash by Titmouse, Inc. with ink and paint services made by Cyber Chicken Studios in South Korea and produced by J. J. Villard's vanity card, Kurtis;[6] Mirari Films's Romanian facilities provided animation for the pilot episode, while the special was animated by Digital eMation In an interview at the 2013 Comic-Con, Villard dubbed the titular character as "He-Man on drugs".[8] Series developer Tommy Blacha went on to describe comments with the network's Standards and Practices to "better tell [the show]."[9] When asked about the inspiration for the series, Blacha joked that Villard pitched the series to network executive Mike Lazzo with a drawing of the protagonist, to which he approved production of the pilot.[10] The two explained that as Villard started working on it with another producer and driving Lazzo "crazy," he abandoned the pilot; this led to Blacha joining as producer and toning it down by "two percent."[11]

Voices

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  • Tommy Blacha – King Star King, Hank Waffles (2014), Gurbles, Fat Frank, Mike Balls, KWA KWA
  • Robin Atkin Downes – Narrator, Alfonso Molestro, Doctor, Chunkles, Hank's Mother, Tim Tumor, Carmine Excrementi, Pinchy Laroux, God Star God
  • J. J. Villard – Pooza, Customer, Surfer
  • Rachel Butera – Princess Snow White (2014), Slutty Waitress, Baroness Sludgeclot, Smear, Mrs. Balls, Burger Bitch
  • Mallory McGill – Princess Snow White (2013)
  • Eric Kaplan – Spring Bunny, Scrod
  • Will Sasso – Eddie 5 Antlers
  • Justin Roiland – Hank Waffles (2023), Cop
  • Robert Englund - Jeff Bezos
  • Andie MacDowell - Katrina
  • John Waters - God Star God

Episodes

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SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
Pilot1November 3, 2013 (2013-11-03)
16July 12, 2014 (2014-07-12)December 6, 2014 (2014-12-06)
Special1February 13, 2023 (2023-02-13)

Pilot (2013)

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TitleWritten byOriginal air date
"KSK!!!"Tommy Blacha and Eric KaplanNovember 3, 2013 (2013-11-03)
The pilot introduces King Star King, who while attempting to declare his love for Snow White, gets kicked out from the realms of god to serve as fry cook at a waffle joint.

Series (2014)

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No.TitleWritten byOriginal release dateOriginal air dateProd.
code
1"The Sting of Alfonzo Molestro"Tommy BlachaJune 15, 2014 (2014-06-15)July 12, 2014 (2014-07-12)101
When Princess Snow White gets decapitated by the evil Alfonzo Molestro, King Star King and his crew must battle him for her body before it rots away.
2"Chunkles and Smear"Tommy BlachaJune 29, 2014 (2014-06-29)August 2, 2014 (2014-08-02)102
Hank Waffles, Gurbles and Pooza are forced to babysit Chunkles and Smear at the Waffle Zone; meanwhile, King Star King and Baroness Sludgeclot go on a date.
3"Fat Frank's Fantasy Lounge"James MerrillJuly 13, 2014 (2014-07-13)September 6, 2014 (2014-09-06)103
King Star King and his crew run into trouble at Fat Frank's Fantasy Lounge.
4"The Saga of Mike Balls"Tommy BlachaJuly 20, 2014 (2014-07-20)October 4, 2014 (2014-10-04)104
King Star King must harden a cowardly alien by the name of Mike Balls in order to defeat his enemy, Tim Tumor.
5"Springtime in the Gigantiverse"Tommy BlachaJuly 27, 2014 (2014-07-27)November 8, 2014 (2014-11-08)105
King Star King hatches into a new and improved version of himself; meanwhile, during spring break, Hank Waffles falls in love with the Burger Bitch.
6"Kwa Kwa City"Tommy BlachaAugust 3, 2014 (2014-08-03)December 6, 2014 (2014-12-06)
January 30, 2017 (2017-01-30) (digital retailers)		106
In order to save the world, King Star King and his crew of strange heroes must escape a strange alien city located inside the head of a petty thief that they get sucked into.

Special (2023)

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TitleWritten byOriginal air date
"King Star King!/!/!/ (alternative title: "The King Star King Amazon Popeyes Christmas Special!!!")"J. J. Villard, Justin Roiland, James Merrill, Johnny RyanFebruary 13, 2023 (2023-02-13)
Years after the events of the series, King Star King has become a fat, bald, middle-aged slob with a family (a loving housewife, and two preteen children), a mortgage and a job at Amazon. He must team up with his old friends Hank Waffles, Pooza, and Gerbils on a dimension-spanning adventure to save his family.

Release and reception

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The pilot was screened at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con, along with a panel hosted by Villard and Blacha.[12] In July 2013, it was released online as part of a presentation of in-development shows for the network, partnered with KFC; viewers could vote for their favorite pilot, with the winner being broadcast on August 26, 2013.[13][14] The series lost to Übermansion, a Stoopid Buddy Stoodios production, although the presentation won an Internet Advertising Campaign Award in 2014 for "Best TV Integrated Ad Campaign".[15][16] Nevertheless, the pilot aired on the network's Toonami block on November 3, 2013 during the daylight saving time transition; Nielsen ratings were not captured during this period.[17]

Meredith Woerner of io9 said that the series gained their approval at its description of a "punk rock He-Man".[18] Conversely, upon surveying the show's description, Patrick Kevin Day of the Los Angeles Times's official blog dubbed the network a "home for stupid characters".[19]

References

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  1. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (November 29, 2022). "Adult Swim's Space-Age Heroes Return in 'King Star King!/!/!' & 'Ballmastrz: Rubicon'". Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  2. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 15, 2012). "Adult Swim Puts Animated Harold & Kumar In Development, Greenlights Seven Pilots". Deadline Hollywood. Hollywood: PMC. Archived from the original on June 17, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  3. ^ Zahed, Ramin (May 16, 2012). "Adult Swim Releases Full Details of 2012–13 Season". Animation. Calabasas, California. Archived from the original on October 8, 2014.
  4. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 10, 2013). "Adult Swim Announces New Series & Pilots". Deadline Hollywood. Hollywood: PMC. Archived from the original on April 24, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  5. ^ a b "King Star King". Adult Swim. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System. May 23, 2014. Archived from the original on May 26, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  6. ^ a b Wolfe, Jennifer (June 11, 2014). "Adult Swim Announces New Online Series King Star King". Hollywood: Animation World Network. Archived from the original on June 17, 2014. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  7. ^ "King Star King Sweepstakes". Adult Swim. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System. June 9, 2014. Archived from the original on June 10, 2014. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  8. ^ Zargari, Shahab; Brunty, Ryan; Davis, Ryan (July 28, 2013). "SDCC 2013 Press Roundtable Interview Series: Mr. Pickles, King Star King, and Superjail!". Verbicide. See video under King Star King heading; 0:41–0:43. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  9. ^ Zargari, Brunty & Davis 2013, 1:19–1:25.
  10. ^ Zargari, Brunty & Davis 2013, 3:14–3:27.
  11. ^ Zargari, Brunty & Davis 2013, 3:27–3:38.
  12. ^ Zahed, Ramin (June 28, 2013). "Adult Swim Announces Comic-Con Invasion Plans". Animation. Calabasas, California. Archived from the original on September 3, 2013.
  13. ^ "'Like a Slap to Your Taste Buds': KFC Gives Bite-Sized Chicken a Hot and Spicy Kick". Louisville, Kentucky: KFC. July 23, 2013. Archived from the original on April 28, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  14. ^ "Adult Swim Pilots – King Star King". Adult Swim. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System. July 2013. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  15. ^ "Adult Swim Pilots". Adult Swim. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System. July 2013. Archived from the original on August 19, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  16. ^ "Adult Swim & KFC Wins 2014 Best TV Integrated Ad Campaign Internet Advertising Award for Adult Swim Pilots". Internet Advertising Competition. West Simsbury, Connecticut: The Web Marketing Association. April 8, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  17. ^ Pucci, Douglas (November 5, 2013). "Adult Swim Weekly Ratings Scorecard". TV Media Insights. New York City: Cross MediaWorks. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  18. ^ Woerner, Meredith (May 10, 2013). "Adult Swim Pilots". io9. New York City: Gawker Media. Archived from the original on May 28, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  19. ^ Day, Patrick Kevin (May 16, 2012). "Upfronts 2012: Adult Swim adds Harold & Kumar, Dan Harmon show". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
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